Title: "A Long Journey"

Author: TxNCISTn
Rating: G/PG [some language, violence, etc.]
Classification: Remembrance and teeny bit of angst – Gibbs and Todd

Spoilers: Enigma and Silver War. Also anything from Season 3.
Summary: A vignette about what one thinks about after the death of close co-worker or friend. Don't know if there is Rule #27, but it sounded good.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story are the property of Donald Bellisario, Belisaurius Productions, Paramount Pictures and Columbia Broadcasting Service Entertainment – this story is for non-profit entertainment of NCIS fans only. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.

Rule Twenty-Seven: 'When all else fails, get some rest.'

Leroy Jethro Gibbs looked at the clock by his radio. It was three twenty-seven in the morning. It was obvious he wasn't getting anywhere with this piece he was sanding. It obviously was seriously warped. Or maybe he was. He picked up his coffee cup. Empty. He reached over for his flask to refill the cup. Empty as well. Damn.

The silver haired former Gunnery Sergeant sighed and looked at the warped piece of wood. Not going to fit….was the terse analytical result he came back with.

He thought back to what Israeli liaison Ziva David had told him when he found her in Kate's chair earlier this evening.

"She's gone Gibbs."

That comment had echoed around in his mind as he looked through Kate's sketchbook after Ziva had handed it to him.

A picture of Tony – sunglasses on, leaning back in his chair a wicked smile on his face

Typical….

A sketch of Abby wearing one of her Goth office get-ups

The solid lines of Tim McGee's youthful, unsure face.

The quiet confidence and gentility of Dr. Donald Mallard

And the stoic features of himself staring back at him. Silent. Resolute.

There were other sketches in the book, most from the two years she had worked at NCIS, but there were a few that made him feel his service years. 21 of them to be exact. It had taken that whole flask of whiskey and sanding of the hull ribs of his ship before he was able to bury the hurt of losing another agent in the line of duty. It never got any easier, but she had been so young, so eager to prove herself.

Damn.

This wasn't accomplishing anything. He sighed and scrubbed his hand across the stubble on this face.

"Time for bed," he said to no one in particular.

At least he didn't see Kate anymore. That was small consolation for how he felt right now. After he fumbled with the light switch, he climbed the stairs out of the cellar of his house and headed up to the bathroom to clean up before bed.

It seemed he drifted off as soon as he hit the pillow. That was good. He hated lying in bed, pondering what tomorrow would bring. He had done a lot of that lately, too much, really.

Dreams are funny things. Sometimes they warn you of danger. Sometimes they tell in their own obtuse language, about the future, other times they are the inspiration for novels, poems or great works of art. Sometimes they replay old fears or present new terrors. Sometimes they merely entertain. And sometimes they do something else.

Gibbs was walking into the bullpen area of MTAC. He had a large cup of his favorite brew in his hand. Though the sun was shining brightly through the windows, it was still early. He just might catch Tony napping at his desk.

Instead, he came face to face with Kaitlin Todd. Alive.

"Kate?" Was all he was able to get out of his surprised mouth.

"I'm all right, Gibbs," she said reassuringly looking at him with those big brown eyes of hers - without that ugly third hole that had been marring her features lately.

"Kate, I'm so sorry…." he began to say, the words tumbling out of his mouth with uncharacteristic sadness.

"It's all right, Gibbs, I'm gonna be okay." Again her voice was reassuring. Confident.

She looked up at him. "Do you mind?" she asked indicating she wanted his cup.

"Uh sure," he said slowly, still stunned by seeing her alive.

She took a long drink from the cup and then handed it back to him.

"I've always wanted to do that," she said teasingly.

"How?" was the only word that made it from his lips.

"I've got my new orders," she said quietly, "I've been transferred…."

"Transferred?" He was totally at a loss now. "Transferred where? "Who authorized this?"

This wasn't fair. She was alive again. Who had the right to transfer her from his team? Now he was getting angry.

"Gibbs…Jethro," she looked into his eyes. "It's all right, Gibbs." She said again. So confident. So sure of herself.

She started to walk away from him.

He couldn't let her go like that. He started after her, when a hand stopped him.

"She'll be okay." The voice was calming. Non-threatening.

"Where is she going?" He had to ask. He had to know.

"On a long journey."

In his mind's eye he could see it all. To visit all her friends and family, both alive and dead. To all those places she always wanted to go, do all those things she always wanted to do, have all her questions answered. See the secrets of the universe.

Then he saw who was leading her. The friend and mentor he had seen in so many nightmares. But this time, he too was uninjured, not pleading for his life. Lieutenant David Cameron gave Gibbs a knowing smile.

"She'll be waiting, Gibbs. For all of you. When the time is right."

And with that, the dream faded. Like so many dreams.

But as it did, he knew something about this dream was special. She was going to be all right. She didn't blame him or any of them.

Though her body had been buried in a grave with full honors, she was going to be all right. And she was finally free.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs woke up before his alarm went off and looked around. He was in his bed, in his room. Despite what logic told him, he somehow knew this dream was different. This was not the mind recycling the recent events or an illusion brought on by a drunken stupor.

Kate was going to be fine. And so was he.

- Fini